More than 400 delegates from 42 countries and regions gathered in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, from September 3 to 5, 2026, for the Asia Pacific Media Forum, where media leaders, government representatives, researchers, think tanks, diplomatic missions, international organisations and business stakeholders called for stronger regional cooperation. The forum focused on building closer partnerships among media organisations while supporting sustainable development, digital transformation, professional journalism and greater regional connectivity.
Hosted in Shenzhen, the gathering brought together representatives from more than 200 mainstream media organisations, think tanks, embassies and consulates, UN agencies and international organisations. The forum also introduced the Shenzhen Consensus, a broad framework supporting open cooperation, digital, intelligent and green development, multilateral trade, technology driven solutions, intercultural dialogue and shared prosperity across the Asia Pacific.
“The Asia Pacific is becoming increasingly interconnected, and stronger media cooperation is essential to building informed societies, encouraging constructive regional dialogue and supporting sustainable development. The Shenzhen Consensus and the proposed Asia Pacific Media Partnership provide a framework for media organisations to exchange expertise, strengthen professional standards and explore new opportunities for collaboration. For Cambodia, participation through Agence Kampuchea Presses highlights the country’s engagement with regional media networks and its interest in responsible journalism and inclusive development. The forum also connected media cooperation with wider economic and technological trends, including digital transformation, green development, multilateral trade and technology driven solutions. As businesses and economies become more closely connected across borders, stronger information networks could play an increasingly important role in supporting understanding, cooperation and sustainable growth throughout the region.”
Asia Pacific Media Leaders Seek a Stronger Regional Partnership
The Asia Pacific Media Forum was organised with the aim of establishing a regional media partnership programme that could encourage mutually beneficial cooperation among media organisations. It also provides a platform for professional exchanges, allowing media leaders and other stakeholders to share perspectives on the region’s future and discuss areas where closer cooperation could deliver practical benefits.
Lyu Yansong, Editor In Chief of China’s Xinhua News Agency, described the gathering as an opportunity for participants to combine their knowledge and develop a shared understanding of regional cooperation.
“This forum has provided a valuable platform for us to pool our wisdom and build consensus on cooperation,” he said.
“Moving forward hand-in-hand, we will surely tell a vivid story of mutual support within the Asia-Pacific family, making new and greater contributions to the steady, sustained growth of Asia-Pacific cooperation,” he said.
For businesses and investors operating across Asia Pacific markets, stronger professional networks among regional media organisations could also contribute to better communication and greater understanding of developments across borders. Reliable information is particularly important in a region where investment, tourism, trade and technology increasingly connect different economies.
UN Calls for Journalism That Builds Public Trust
Melissa Fleming, United Nations Under Secretary General for Global Communications, opened the gathering through a video link and highlighted the role of journalism in supporting a healthier public debate. She stressed the importance of bringing relevant stakeholders together to find ways to improve the quality of information available to the public and encourage positive change.
“Audiences around the world are seeking solutions, and they are crying out for ethical, professional journalism that they can trust, a press that acts with integrity, a press that stands up for the vulnerable and that delivers facts that break through the noise,” she said.
Her remarks placed professional journalism at the centre of the wider discussion about regional development. As economies become more digitally connected, the ability to access credible information is increasingly important for governments, businesses, investors and communities making decisions in rapidly changing markets.
Cambodia Highlights the Value of Responsible Media
Cambodia was represented at the forum by H.E. Prak Thaveak Amida, Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Information. He described the event as a valuable platform bringing together media leaders, government representatives, think tanks, business leaders and other stakeholders to exchange views about the shared future of the region.
“We believe that an informed society, supported by professional and responsible media, is an important foundation for inclusive development and constructive regional cooperation,” he said at the plenary session of the forum.
Cambodia’s participation also extends to the organising structure of the new regional media initiative. Agence Kampuchea Presses, under the Ministry of Information, represents Cambodia on the Asia Pacific Media Partnership Organising Committee, which consists of 16 founding members responsible for consultations on rules of procedure and activities under the partnership framework.
Shenzhen Consensus Links Media Cooperation With Development
One of the major outcomes of the forum was the launch of the Shenzhen Consensus. The agreement outlines a broad commitment to open cooperation, faster digital, intelligent and green development, and stronger collaboration among media organisations across the Asia Pacific.
The consensus also connects media cooperation with wider economic and social priorities. Participants expressed support for multilateral trade, technology driven solutions, intercultural dialogue and efforts to promote prosperity throughout the region. These areas are closely linked to the operating environment for businesses and investors, particularly as digital technologies and cross border economic activity continue to reshape regional markets.
Digital and Green Development Take Centre Stage
The emphasis on digital, intelligent and green development reflects some of the major changes taking place across Asia Pacific economies. Media organisations are increasingly operating in a technology driven environment while governments and businesses are simultaneously pursuing digital transformation and more sustainable development models.
For companies, entrepreneurs and investors, these changes create a stronger need for reliable information about markets, regulations, technology and regional economic developments. Greater cooperation among media organisations could help improve professional exchanges and strengthen communication across countries with different languages, cultures and business environments.
Regional Media Partnership Opens New Opportunities
Xinhua, one of the co hosts of the event, is among the 16 founding members of the Asia Pacific Media Partnership Organising Committee. The committee will conduct consultations on the partnership’s operating procedures and the activities that will be carried out under the new framework.
The proposed partnership could give media organisations greater opportunities to exchange professional knowledge, collaborate on regional initiatives and build stronger institutional relationships. For media businesses, this could also create opportunities for new forms of content cooperation, professional development and cross border engagement, although the practical impact will depend on how the partnership develops.
Forum Gives Participants a View of China’s Development
The forum extended beyond formal discussions, with four sub forums held from September 3 to 4 in Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhuhai and Shenzhen. These sessions gave international media representatives, university lecturers and researchers an opportunity to observe aspects of China’s high quality development.
The programme provided participants with exposure to different cities and development environments within Guangdong Province. By combining media discussions with field visits and professional exchanges, the forum sought to provide a broader understanding of economic, technological and social developments shaping the region.
Why Stronger Media Cooperation Matters to Cambodia
For Cambodia, regional media cooperation has significance beyond journalism. The country is increasingly connected to regional tourism, trade, investment, technology and business networks, making credible cross border information an important part of understanding opportunities and challenges.
Cambodia’s participation through Agence Kampuchea Presses and the Ministry of Information also places the country within a broader regional conversation about responsible journalism, digital development and sustainable growth. Stronger professional relationships among media organisations could support greater awareness of Cambodia’s economic and tourism opportunities while helping Cambodian stakeholders better understand developments in neighbouring and regional markets.
A Broader Regional Agenda Takes Shape
The Asia Pacific Media Forum demonstrates that media cooperation is increasingly being discussed alongside wider issues affecting economic and social development. The Shenzhen Consensus brings together open cooperation, digital transformation, green development, multilateral trade, technology driven solutions and intercultural dialogue under a broader regional vision.
For businesses, investors and policymakers, the development is worth watching because information and economic connectivity are becoming increasingly intertwined. Stronger regional cooperation among media organisations could help create more opportunities for professional exchange and improve communication among stakeholders across Asia Pacific markets.
Conclusion
The Asia Pacific Media Forum in Shenzhen brought together hundreds of regional and international stakeholders around a common message: closer cooperation is needed as the region becomes more interconnected. The proposed Asia Pacific Media Partnership and the Shenzhen Consensus provide a framework for strengthening media collaboration while connecting journalism with broader priorities such as sustainable development, digital transformation, green growth, trade and regional prosperity.
For Cambodia, its participation highlights the importance of remaining actively engaged in regional information and professional networks. As trade, tourism, investment and technology continue to cross national borders, credible journalism and stronger communication between countries will remain important foundations for informed decision making and sustainable regional development.